Combined step-ladder and table



v(No Model.) 2 Sheets-'Sheet 2.

E. G. MOGONNELL. COMBINED STEP LADDER AND TABLE. NO. 579,328.-

Patented Mar. 23, 1897.

x PETERS ou. Mcm-unam whsnmn llnii'rn @rares ELMER C. MCCONNELL, OF PARKERSBURG, \VESI` VIRGINIA.

COMBINED STEP-LADDER AND TABLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 579,328, dated March 23, 1897.

Application filed .Tune Z4, 1896. Serial No. 596,766. (N0 model.)

To @ZZ whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, ELMER G. MCGONNELL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Parkersburg, in the county of Vood and State of West Virginia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in a Combined Step- Ladder and Table, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a new and useful improvement in combined step-ladders and tables, and has for its object to provide a device of this description, which with little loss of time may be converted into either a table or step-ladder or folded in a close space for transportion or storage and which will have but little more weight than if it were constructed for either a ladder or table separately.

lVith these ends in view my invention consists in the details of construction and com bination of elements hereinafter set forth and then specifically designated by the claims.

In order that those skilled in the art to which this invention appertains may understand how to make and use the same, I will describe its construction and operation in detail, referring by number to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and in which- Figure l is a side elevation of my improvement when adjusted for use as a step-ladder5 Fig. 2, a central longitudinal section of the device when adjusted for use as a table; Fig. 3, a section at the line g/ 1/ of Fig. 2, looking upward; Fig. 4, a section at the line x of Fig.. 2; Fig.`5, a section at the line ,c Icof Fig. l, and Fig. 6 a section at the line o i; of Fig. l.

Referring in detail to the figures, l repre* sents the side rails of the ladder-section, which have secured to their upper ends the platform 2, which when the device is used as a ladder serves as a top step or rest for tools and the like. Depending from the rear portion of this platform are lugsl 3, to which is pivoted at 4. the frame 5, consisting of side .rails and the cross-bars 6 and 7 and having formed in the outer surfaces of the side rails grooves 8.

9 are extension-legs attached to the frame 5 by means of the pins l0, which project from said legs within the grooves S, in order that these legs may be adjusted upon the frame longitudinally and also permitted to swing thereon for the purpose hereinafter set forth.

The legs 9 are secured together by crossbars ll and l2, and formed upon these legs at points where the cross-bar ll is connected thereto are sockets 123, into which the lower ends of the side rails of the frame 5 are adapted to lit, so as to hold the legs in line with the frame, as clearly shown in Fig. l, in order that these legs and frame may constitute the support for the ladder. As a further security for retaining the legs and frame in line and preventing their displacement when supporting the ladder, I provide a bolt 14., projecting from the cross-bar 7 and adapted to enter a suitable socket in the cross-bar 1l, as clearly shown in Fig. 5, so as to lock with the crossbar ll when the latter is brought into contact with the cross-bar 7.

15 are a series of steps pivoted at it to the side rails of the ladder, so as to swing, and are connected together by the bars 17, being pivoted at 18 to the lugs li), attached to the underside of each step, so that when the bars 17 are moved the steps are caused to move in unison therewith.

In placing the steps between the side rails l they are so located relative to their width that when brought into parallelism with the rails their edges will just meet, so as to form a substantially continuous surface, as shown in Fig. 2, and this surface may be utilized as a board upon which to iron or for other purposes to which a table is usually put. The top step of the series l5 has attached to its under side a hook 20, the outer end of which is adapted to engage with the cross-bar 6 upon the frame 5 or an eye attached to said bar, its function being to hold the frame in its proper relative position to the steps and side rails 1 when the device is used as a ladder.

When the device is to be used as a table, the frame 5 is swung to a position parallel with the side rails 1 and there secured bythe engagement of the springscatch 2l with the pin 14., or a hook may be substituted for the catch, so that when the frame is swung into its position it will be automatically secured and held until released. Before the frame 5 has been secured in the position just described the legs 9 are swung at an angle there- IOO to and slid to the upper ends of the grooves 8, and the pins 23, which project from the upper ends of these legs, pass into the holes 24, formed in the side rails 1, and, as seen by reference to Fig. 2, this will firmly lock the legs 9 in position, whereby they may serve to support the device when used as a table.

25 are also a pair of legs which are pivoted upon the roclcbar 26, the latter serving as the trunnion upon which the step 15L swings. The outer ends of the rock-bar are bent at right angles thereto and have holes formed therethrough adapted for the passage of the lock-pins 27 which are so arranged as to engage with suitable holes formed in the sides of the legs 25, and by this arrangement when the lock-pins 27 are engaged with these holes in the legs the step 15a will be locked thereto, thereby causing it to move with the legs, and since the remaining steps in the series are connected to the step 15, as above described, all of these steps will be caused to move in unison with the legs 25, so that when said legs are swung to the position shown in Fig. 2 the steps will be closed, thereby presenting a substantially continuous surface which may be used as an ironing board or table, as before mentioned. The legs 25 are held in position when being used as a table by the rods28, which are pivoted at 29 to the side rails 1 and provided with hooked ends which engage the staples 30, fastened to the legs 25.

For the purpose of transporting or storing the device the legs 25 may be swung into longitudinal line with the side rails 1 without affecting the steps by the withdrawal of the locking-pins 27, thus freeing the rock-bar 26 from the legs 25 and permitting the latter to move independent of the steps, and these legs may be held in this position by the insertion of the pins 27 through suitable holes 31 and passed into corresponding holes in the side rails 1, the laterally-projecting plates 32 also serving tohold the legs 25 in proper alinement. After this has been accomplished the frame 5 and extension-legs 9, when in the position shown in Fig. l, are swung parallel with the side rails l by the disengagement of the hook 2O from the cross-bar (l, thus folding the device.

In converting the device from a table to a ladder the locking-pins 27 are left in engagement with the legs 25, so as to cause the rockbar to move with said legs, and these legs when swung into longitudinal alinement with the rails will so operate said bar as to cause the several steps to assume the position shown in Fig. 1, and the legs when locked in this alinement by pins in the holes 3l constitute the feet upon which the ladder-section stands.

From this description it will be seen that my improvement may be used either as a ladder or table for ironing, as a temporary work-bench, for paper-hanging, or even as a cot or bed to lie upon, and maybe manufactured of such material as to be light and at the same time exceedingly strong.

I am aware that slight modifications might be made in the construction here shown and described without departing from the spirit of myinvention, and I therefore do not wish to be limited to this exact construction.

Having thus fully described my invention, what l claim as new and useful is- 1. The herein-described combination of the side rails 1, steps 15 pivoted therebetween, bars 17, by means of which said steps are pivoted together, a rock-bar 26 to which one of said steps is secured, swinging legs 25 pivoted to the side rails 1 by the rock-bar, means for locking said rock-bar to said legs, whereby the steps are caused to swing with said legs, a frame 5 having grooves formed in its side rails, extension-legs 9 connected to said frame by the engagement of the pins 10 with said grooves, means for locking the legs 9 in alinement with the frame 5, and means for securing the several parts in their proper relative position when serving as either a table or ladder, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

2. In a device of the character described, the side rails 1, steps 15 and step 15n pivoted therebetween, connecting-bars 17 pivoted to said steps to cause them to move in unison, a rock-bar 2G to which the step 15a is secured, lockingpins passed through rightangled portions of said rock-bar, legs 25 pivoted to said rock-bar, lugs 32 for alining said legs with the rails 1, a platform 2 secured to the upper ends of the rails, lugs 3 depending from said platform, frame 5 pivoted to said lugs and having grooves 8 formed in the side rails thereof, extension-legs 9 connected to the frame 5 by the pins 10 projecting within the grooves 8, sockets 13 adapted to receive the lower ends of the frame 5, a bolt 14 for securing said frame and legs in alinement, a hook 2O adapted to engage a cross-bar of the frame 5 to hold said frame in its proper relative position to the side rails 1, hooks 28 adapted to engage with staples 30 to hold the legs 25 in position when serving to support the table, and catch 2l for securing the frame 5 parallel with the side rails 1, all arranged substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

In testimony whereof l have hereunto affixed my signature in the presence of two subscribin g witnesses.

ELMER C. MCCONNELL.

Witnesses:

S. S. WILLIAMSON, C. E. PIGGOTT.

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